The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released statistical data on imports, US consumption, and import penetration for June 2009. The data represents U.S. consumption, imports and import penetration for YTD June 2009 as compared to the same 2008 six month period. The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:

1. Stainless steel sheet/strip: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 96,146 tons, a 62.7% decrease as compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption was 409,951 tons, a 45.4% decrease; six month import penetration was 23.5%, a 10.9 percentage point decrease from 2008

2. Stainless steel plate: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 18,497 tons, a 63.1% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption was 83,571 tons, a 37.2% decrease; six month import penetration was 22.1%, a 15.6 percentage point decrease from 2008

3. Stainless steel bar: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 40,827 tons, a 35.4% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption was 77,844 tons, a 36.9% decrease; six month import penetration was 52.4%, a 1.2 percentage point increase from 2008

4. Stainless steel rod: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 5,729 tons, a 63.2% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption was 13,941 tons, a 56.5% decrease; six month import penetration was 41.1%, a 7.5 percentage point decrease from 2008

5. Stainless steel wire: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 14,584 tons, a 34.6% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; U.S. consumption was 19,383 tons, a 47.7% decrease; six month import penetration was 75.2%, a 15.0 percentage point increase from 2008

5. Alloy tool steel: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 19,927 tons, a 64.1% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption and import penetration were not calculable

6. Electrical steel: Imports in YTD June 2009 were 42,564 tons, a 22.7% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption was 119,535 tons, a 33.8% decrease from YTD June 2008; six month import penetration was 35.6%, a 5.1 percentage point increase from 2008

7. Imports of total specialty steel in YTD June 2009 were 238,274 tons, a 54.2% decrease compared to YTD June 2008; US consumption was 738,332 tons, a 43.3% decrease; six month import penetration was 32.3%, a 7.6 percentage point decrease from 2008